This is interesting:
(Applies to: AOL AOL)
AOL Says Holiday Season Brings Members Online to Do Their Shopping,
Many for the First Time
DULLES, VA. (Nov. 25) BUSINESS WIRE -Nov. 25, 1998--
Research Shows That 20% Of Shoppers Purchasing on AOL Are First-Time
Buyers; Converting "Window-Shoppers" to First-Time Buyers Is A Key
Retail Strategy This Holiday Season
Study Shows 94% Of New AOL Shoppers,
Attracted by Ease and Convenience, Will Buy Online Again
Electronic commerce leader America Online is predicting that millions
of its members getting "online" rather than "in line" to shop this
holiday season will be doing so for the first time.
And the experience will be so convenient and rewarding for them that
they'll come back for more.
These trends are behind a critical strategy for AOL this holiday
season: to lure online "window shoppers" into becoming first-time and
then repeat buyers by making the experience easy, fun, safe and
convenient, with an array of shopping features and special services.
Wendy Brown, AOL's leading "e-tail" expert and Vice President of
Electronic Commerce, said, "Every week during the last month, we've
seen that 20% of the buyers making purchases on AOL are first-time
buyers, indicating that more and more new shoppers are discovering the
benefits of e-commerce.
"Nobody makes e-commerce as easy and enjoyable as AOL; we are
laser-focused on making the entire e-commerce experience as simple as
possible for consumers by giving them the tools they need -- like our
Gift Finder, Gift Reminder and Quick Gifts areas, our Quick Checkout
feature and our 100% Guarantee of satisfaction and security."
Brown continued, "As stores and schedules get crowded during the
holiday season, the ease and convenience of online shopping becomes
very inviting. And we're working to make the experience even more
enjoyable and rewarding so that buyers will get into the online
shopping habit."
Once an Online Shopper, Always an Online Shopper?
Surveys conducted for AOL found that those who shop online are likely
to make shopping a habit, are likely to recommend it to others, and are
in fact finding it easier than "offline" shopping:
-- Among AOL members who have shopped online, 94% are likely to
purchase again and 94% have recommended it to a friend, according to
research conducted by Ascolese Associates, a firm specializing in
information-based marketing solutions for the telecommunications,
online and interactive industries.
-- In fact, having caught the online shopping bug, interactive
purchasers are likely to purchase three items or more every six months,
according to research produced for AOL by Digital Marketing Services,
an online research company based in Dallas.
-- An AOL/Roper Starch survey found that 85 percent of people who shop
online say it is "easier than the traditional way they used to shop."
-- AOL anticipates its average shopper will make more than one-third of
his or her total holiday purchases online this year.
AOL's Ten Tips For Holiday E-Shopping
To help make the experience as quick, easy, safe and enjoyable as
possible for first-time buyers, Brown suggests shoppers follow her "10
Tips for Holiday E-Shopping":
No. 1. Look For One-Stop Shopping Destinations.
Searching through the millions of Websites offering online shopping,
many with their own complex navigation and check-out processes, can
make holiday e-shopping time-consuming and frustrating.
So look for a "one-stop shopping destination" that offers direct access
to a wide variety of brand-name products. AOL's Shopping Channel on AOL
and AOL.COM, for example, offers more than 5 million brand-name
products across 16 easy-to-shop categories from more than 110
retailers.
No. 2. Make Sure Your E-Stores Have Policies to Protect YOU.
Not every Website guarantees shoppers' safety and satisfaction. So
before you buy, closely review the retailer's security and return
policies to ensure that it provides a comprehensive
money-back-guarantee.
All transactions conducted on the AOL and AOL.COM Shopping Channels are
backed by the company's Certified Merchant Guarantee program - making
them two of the safest shopping destinations in cyberspace.
No. 3. Know How to Ask and Where to Look for Help.
Customer service representatives are available to help you in most
e-stores, and so are special areas that cater to your specific needs as
a first-time buyer.
This season, AOL will make it easy for first-time buyers with a Member
Specials area including a quick online shopping tutorial, a selection
of merchandise under $20 and detailed information on the AOL Guarantee.
AOL members can access this information starting early in December at
KEYWORD: Specials and on the "First Time Visitors" screen on AOL's
Shopping Channel.
No. 4. Use the Shopping Services Available to You.
To help you score with the perfect gift, a number of shopping search
features are now available online. AOL's new Gift Finder feature is a
great way to select that special something for those on your holiday
shopping list.
AOL also offers Gift Lists, which let you "click" on gifts you want and
then e-mail the list to parents, grandparents, friends, family ... and
Santa. Additional services include: Gift Reminders, to help you
remember those important gift-giving dates and holidays; gift wrapping
services; and electronic greeting cards.
No. 5. Be a Bargain Bug.
Daily bargains, including some that can't be offered in "brick and
mortar stores," are regularly featured online. To take advantage of the
best bargains, like those found in America Online's Deals & Steals
area, be an online bargain bug and log on daily! You can also subscribe
to online newsletters to get the latest on the hottest discounts.
No. 6 Don't Forget Your "Wallet."
To ensure your online shopping experience is quick and hassle-free,
sign up with "wallet" services that safely store your credit card and
shipping information online. This feature will allow for a quick
checkout process so that you do not have to repeatedly enter your
credit card and shipping information every time you want to make a
purchase.
AOL's Quick Checkout lets shoppers store key purchase information
securely online, including 10 credit card numbers and up to 50 shipping
addresses, making the "checkout" process as simple as a few clicks of
the mouse.
No. 7. Procrastinate without Guilt
If you're among the 40% of Americans who wait until the last minute to
shop, have no fear! You'll appreciate the amazing selection of gifts
offered online that are guaranteed to arrive at your door in time for
the holidays.
AOL features a special Quick Gifts area offering more than 200
products, all guaranteed to arrive either 24- or 48-hours after the
purchase is made. Many of the merchants will even wrap the gift and
sign the card for you, too -- the ultimate in convenience.
No. 8. Find that Hot Toy ... Without the "Jingle All the Way" Hassle
One of the best-kept secrets about online shopping: Some of the hottest
toys and other gifts are usually available online even after they have
sold out at your favorite stores. So, if the shelves at the mall are
empty, you still have a good chance of finding that hard-to-find toy in
AOL's Shopping Channel.
No. 9. Look for Convenient Search and Navigation Features
Rather than searching endlessly from site to site, several shopping
search functions are now available online to help consumers quickly and
easily locate the products or brands they want to buy online. America
Online offers "Keywords," or shortcuts to your favorite places online,
and a new search function that allows members to shop name by store
name or product.
This holiday season, AOL shoppers who want direct access to the
Shopping Channel or any of its 110 partner sites can simply type
Keyword: "shopping" or the store's name and be instantly transported to
that site. To focus their searches even more, shoppers can visit the
Shopping Channel and quickly locate a product by its brand name.
No. 10. Take Advantage of 'Round the Clock Shopping.
Shop early; shop late! Online stores are open 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. So, shop during your lunch hour, over your morning coffee,
or when the kids are nestled snug in their beds.
About AOL Shopping
With more than 14 million members on AOL -- and millions more other
Internet users on AOL.COM -- America Online is the undisputed leader in
the online marketplace, bringing together the best roster of name-brand
retail partners with the largest audience of shoppers anywhere in
cyberspace.
More people use America Online to shop than any other destination in
cyberspace because, with more than 110 of the best brand name partners
offering the largest variety of popular consumer products, AOL makes it
easy and convenient for consumers to locate and buy the products they
are looking for.
With the Shopping Channel on AOL and AOL.COM, consumers need only visit
one shopping site rather than multiple stores - to find what they are
interested in buying. All of this -- brand name merchants,
one-stop-shopping, and great new features and programming -- makes AOL
the most popular place to browse and e-shop this holiday season, and
throughout the year.
About America Online
America Online Inc., based in Dulles, is the world's leader in branded
interactive services and content. America Online, Inc. operates two
worldwide Internet online services: America Online, with more than 14
million members; and CompuServe, with approximately 2 million members.
America Online Inc. also operates AOL Studios, a leading builder of
Internet brands for new market segments. Other branded Internet
services operated by America Online Inc. include AOL.COM, the world's
most accessed Web site from home; Digital City, Inc., the No. 1 branded
local content network and community guide on AOL and the Internet; AOL
NetFind, AOL's comprehensive guide to the Internet; AOL Instant
Messenger, an instant messaging tool available on both AOL and the
Internet; and ICQ, an instant communication and chat technology on the
Internet.
Video News Release:
Wednesday, November 25, 1998 -- 10:30 - 11:00 AM - C-band, Telstar 4
(C), Transponder 9, Audio 6.2/6.8
Wednesday, November 25, 1998 -- 3:00 - 3:30 PM - C-band, Telstar 5 (C),
Transponder 17, Audio 6.2/6.8
Thursday, November 26, 1998 -- 4:00 - 4:30 AM - C-band, Galaxy 6 (C),
Transponder 11, Audio 6.2/6.8
Friday, November 27, 1998 -- 12:30 - 1:00 PM - C-band, Galaxy 6 (C),
Transponder 9, Audio 6.2 /6.8
-0- CF/ph*
CONTACT: AOL
Wendy Goldberg, 703/265-2359
KEYWORD: VIRGINIA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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